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18092008

SMR(00:21:50) :

Okay, I will stop obsessing about this election stuff, I will go to bed, right after I post this link. It is horrifying and scary and powerful. Maybe it’s already been posted here, so many links to go to, I don’t even know how I ended up here, but you have got to see this, send it to everyone you know who is still thinking of voting mclame:

How can the Alaska Legislature allow the McCain Yellowbelly Express to come in and hijack a PRE-ELECTION investigation???

How can the Legislature buckle under the allegations of ‘partisanship’ when a Republican from Wasilla cast the deciding vote to pursue subpoeanas? How is this possible?

I am writing from California and you Alaskans need to rally a call to arms to make sure the truth is known. If she did nothing, then she has nothing to hide..but this is BUSH/CHENEY/ROVE territory!!!!!!!! They get away with murder and hide behind ‘executive privilege’ and have a phalanx of beltway lawyer scumbags smother and kill any pursuit of truth.

Please let the Alaska Legislature do their job..yes, they are operating under scrutiny but don’t let the McCain operation derail what is supposed to be standard ethics investigation. All this tells me and the rest of us who like to employ deductive and rational reasoning is that Sarah Palin has something, perhaps many things to hide.

Someone correct me if i’m wrong.

I’ll tell you this, she’ll fit right in there if she’s elected…just picture her sitting behind closed doors with Snowmobile Jethro and McCain’s brood laughing it up and how they got away with so much and were held accountable for so little…

Remember… ‘a heartbeat away…’

Sigh…what a predicament this nation is in…

18092008

JustPat(00:36:48) :

Got this today in my email–it says it all! Don’t tell me there isn’t still racism in this country. All of these irrational arguments against Obama are just a nasty, insidious way for people to avoid coming right out and saying “I won’t vote for a black man.” You all have been my sanity this past two weeks! I’m in Kansas surrounded by the worst kind of fascist rednecks–keep up the good work!

Here’s the post:

I’m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight…..

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic,
different, un-American.”

* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, and you’re the quintessential
American story.

* If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re labeled a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

* Attend 6 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well
grounded.

* If you spend 3 years right after college as a brilliant community
organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review,
create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters,
spend
12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State
Se nator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become
chairman
of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years
in
the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while
sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and
Public Works and Veterans’ Affairs committees, you don’t have any real
leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council
and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 6,000 people, 20
months
as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re
qualified
to become the country’s second highest ranking executive, and
potentially
President.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising
2
beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real
Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your
disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a
Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the
proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no
other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your
unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner-city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values
don’t
represent America’s.

* If you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with at least one DWI
conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until
age
25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of
Alaska
from the U SA, your family is extremely admirable and patriotic.

……….OK, it’s all much clearer now.

18092008

A Brit abroad aka Flag Cobra(00:37:26) :

For those of you who are concerned about the Israeli/Iran issue, I think you may be able to breathe out for a while. (Hoping the link works).

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7620215.stm

The new head of the governing party is perceived as being less “hawkish” – and there seems to be so much political turmoil there at the moment that I think Iran is less of an immediate problem than getting the government and corruption scandals sorted out.

Interestingly – also in the article:
“The Kadima election comes as the US government is continuing its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January.

Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Tuesday. An Israeli spokesman said the two would continue to meet until a new government was sworn in.”

Bush could be trying to go out as a good guy in the Middle East… I hope he manages.

While the City fled in terror, true heroes struggled to get to where half a thousand of them ended up giving up their lives trying to make the rest of us safe. Seven years later, the morning’s crystal clear beauty was the metaphor of authentic American spirit. That spirit is there, no matter what’s in the foreground. That American spirit adrenalized the hundreds of first responders and volunteers in their final acts, acts of true heroic community service.

After seven paradoxical years, most Americans solemnly honored the spirit and service of both dead and surviving emergency responders on September 11th, 2008. But just one week before, that spirit was betrayed by desperate politicians attempting to tarnish an opponent, but, instead, trashed the fundamental backbone of an America which rushes to help those in need.

18092008

Aussie Puck Mule Revlon Red Palin(02:28:05) :

This is a very clever little thing, I’ve been watching it for weeks, it has so much data

As some of you remember I keep asking you guys to participate in the postcard campaign being run by a woman in California

I just received an email from the host and she reposts that they have already mailed 3883 postcards to the battleground of Ohio their goal is 10,000

in the email she also says “WELCOME ALASKANS! ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM WASILLA! I noticed we have some new comers joining us and wanted to welcome them aboard. As of today we have 372 supporters. We did it and surpassed our goal of 200! Now I’m looking to reach 500.”

here it is for those of you interested
This message was sent to you by the host of the “POSTCARDS FORTHE GENERAL ( ALL INCLUDED)” event for which you signed up toattend. You can edit your signup by going to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/myevents You can see the details of this event by going to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/444zy — Hi O-Family, I’d like to start by saying thank you for all who gave their condolences to me last week. My uncle was a well liked man and I found out he was supporting Obama. I was very sad that I didn’t get a chance to speak with him about this campaign and what I was doing. On a good note, the Obama Campaign called me to do a blog. Not sure when it will be up so be on the look out. The picture I sent them is me holding flags with my Obama shirt on (blue/white baseball shirt). Now I’m back and trying to catch up. As of today this group has sent out 3883 postcards that I was notified of. THE DEADLINE IS OCT. 15TH. Some of those numbers are due to Postcard Parties. Wait until you see the slideshow I’m putting together of those parties. If you have completed your postcards, please keep your name on the list. Do not delete yourself from this event as it will not give us an accurate count of how many supporters participated and you will miss out on the slide show. I’m hosting this event so if you can attend I’d love to meet you: Los Angeles, CA Postcard/Voter Registration Event:http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs7vmk My friends Suzie and Fred McKay were generous enough to have me host a postcard party in their Las Vegas, NV home. I will be posting a blog and pictures but wanted to share what her husband Fred wrote on his postcard: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/suziemckay/gG53Lf/commentary#comment-gGQmjF WELCOME ALASKANS! ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM WASILLA! I noticed we have some new comers joining us and wanted to welcome them aboard. As of today we have 372 supporters. We did it and surpassed our goal of 200! Now I’m looking to reach 500. The goal for the General is to send 10,000 postcards from this group. We did over 5,000 last time so I have no doubt we can achieve this goal. In order for me to know how many were sent out, I need you to help. Please e-mail me the following info which I report to TaLisa ON A WEEKLY BASIS: YOUR NAMECITY AND/OR STATEDATE MAILEDNUMBER OF POSTCARDS SENT OUT If you are having a postcard party or a group event for this, please let me know that’s where the number of postcards are from. Example:Linda SmithProvidence, RI8/20/08Postcard party – 300 ALSO, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE TAKE PICTURES OF THE PARTIES, POSTCARDS ON BOTH SIDES AND SEND THEM TO ME AT LYNN4OBAMA@YAHOO.COM You can just take them of your postcards even if you are not having a party. I would like to put a slideshow together and maybe we’ll get a blog written about our efforts. Thank you for your support and keep your hands from cramping.😀 I’m fired up! And He’s Ready to Go! ARE YOU? Lynn BrancoPostcards for Votes – Team LeaderMaking Change Happenlynn4obama@yahoo.com

Know it’s too early to have it all organized, but later today something should break so we can help you folks out in whatever way we can!

18092008

Hick Town in W PA(03:00:35) :

Aussie … then color the whole country blue – think big!

18092008

BigSlick(03:11:31) :

Rouge Cou? or Raciste?

The Palin family is so very proud of their Redneck identity, she named her company “Rouge Cou” and claims it means Redneck in French. Well, “cou rouge” means a red neck literally as in anatomy, but the connotation of referring to a person or class of people is completely lost, much in the same way she would be lost in the nuances of foreign policy.

She even got the word order backwards, obviously just pulling words from a dictionary….and several of my French friends who speak English well enough to understand the nuance of the word “redneck” assure me that the translation of that image-invoking term would be — GET THIS — “raciste” or, back into English, “racist”.

Real classy company name, Sarah. Don’t be such a leche-cul, Sarah.

Now, read the below and tell me you don’t want to see the financial records for this company of hers?

(from a vetting report prepared by the Democratic Party before the 2006 race for Governor)

Palin Obtained a Business License For Marketing and Consulting, Saying that She Wanted To Line
Up Her Ducks if She Chose to Pursue It. Asked about the business registered under her name, Palin
said, “Rouge Cou, it’s a classy way of saying redneck. It’s a French word, rouge is red, cou is neck. It’s
for marketing and consulting, in case I wanted to go that route, I’d have my ducks all lined up and have a
business license. I just was granted that business license… I would like to, with some of the endeavors
that I have going on right now, there comes a time when one desires to be paid for them!” [Anchorage Daily
News (Alaska), 6/8/05]

Hi Everyone
I’ll probably repost this later but as I’m sure we’re all aware now that Gov Palin’s email was hacked.

Now before I go furthur I want to say I’ve worked in IT since college & I’ve lurked on many darksites from time to time being a young man who didn’t care what forums he was lurking on

Also I’m not going to post about using personal email for government business. I’m sure many many many people are going to comment about that one.

but I will say this
The ‘group’ that hacked her yahoo acct are serious business, they’ve been waging an online war against scientologist for a couple of years over their legal actions against people trying to shed light on their religion.
I don’t believe that what was given to wikileaks was everything they have. I believe with my head & heart that a lot more of what was in her personal email was saved and is sitting out on the net. What this was in my opinon is a notice to the Gov that
1.) We hacked your email
2.) Here is proof we hacked your email.
3.) You can either tell the world or we will
That’s all I have to say on this

Electoral-vote is a great site – very user friendly with links – I like the political humor link.

I’m pretty sure electoral-vote uses the last poll for the numbers (and they cite the poll they’ve used). This means they are sometimes more accurate than other sites when the trend is changing, but also means they can be off depending on the accuracy of the last poll

The two “poll of polls” sites are maybe more accurate. They would be http://www.pollster.com, andhttp://www.fivethirtyeight.com The 538 site is run by Nate Silver, whose day job is with Baseball Prospectus, and he knows statistics! He weights polls by their historical accuracy, and by how recent they are, and he runs 10,000 simulations each day to see who’s most likely to win today. He gives you all the polling data, and the archives of his commentary are very vaulable. He’s an Obama supporter, which doesn’t affect his data but does affect his commentary. He’s one of the first places I visit every morning.

18092008

lemonfair(03:57:12) :

The tide is turning, and barring a terrorist attack or a major gaffe by Obama or Biden, it will not turn back again.

18092008

Anonymous(03:58:07) :

Just Pat — Logic and truth are obviously not a part of the right wing-nut agenda………EVERYONE keep shining a brite lite and stomping HARD on all these cockroach mofo’s……………and good morning!!!!!!!!!!!

Has everyone noticed by now that John McCain never listens to a word Sarah says, unless, of course, she really is talking out her ass?
Check him out when she speaks, he doesn’t stand beside her and pay attention to what she says, he steps back and stares at her ass when she speaks.

Here is a good laugh for you mudpuppies….. it’s Woody Allen’s old stand up routine ‘I Shot A Moose”….lol. It’s what I think of every time they are talking about moose stew and shooting moose from a helicopter.

Mooselini indeed.

18092008

lemonfair(04:02:15) :

Oh – I should say that Nate Silver at 538 has the current electoral map if the election were held today at “John McCain would win 274-264.” But when you go to the site you see Obama 258, McCain 280. That’s from the simulations, so no time to panic. Because he includes older polls with less and less weight to them, he lags a little in catching the trend.

18092008

lemonfair(04:03:27) :

Larry Kudlow just on Morning Joe claiming that poor people and liberals in Congress are responsible for the financial mess, because the liberals in Congress wanted people to own houses who couldn’t afford houses. You can’t make this stuff up!

lemonfair,,, they were absolutely right!!! All of us poor folks got together and crumbled Wall-Street.😀

18092008

Belgian Observer(04:10:12) :

BigSlick (03:11:31): to be fair, “raciste” is far from being the French equivalent of “redneck” – I’m a translator by profession and live in a French-speaking area – although most people assume that most rednecks are racist, not all racists are rednecks and the two shouldn’t be conflated.

A more accurate translation would be “plouc” or “péquenot” (roughly, a bumpkin, hick, or rural person) but there’s no real equivalent for it.

“The tide is turning, and barring a terrorist attack or a major gaffe by Obama or Biden, it will not turn back again.”

That idea was already suggested to McCain by his top advisors, a couple months ago they told him that an attack would be the best thing that could happen for his campaign, I’ve been waiting to see if he tries to arrange one.

18092008

Anonymous(04:12:48) :

Cartoon pig dog — he is ALWAYS looking at her ass——-why do you think Cindy is no more than 4 steps away……..she knows he is a cheater……he dumped his crippled first wife for Cindy !!!!!

18092008

Jane McConnell(04:14:10) :

In the meantime, from France, a link about SP’s emails I found in a French on line newspaper this morning (we’re 9 hours ahead of you and I don’t see this yet on your fantastic blog – you may still be asleep!)

I was in Nebraska and voted for Hagel in 1996. I am now an Alaskan, but did not vote for Palin in 2006. I often hear Palin touted as a “real person” and I can tell you she always seemed what Nebraskans would call “fakey”. Chuck Hagel is a “real person.” He’s not a woman and not glamorous, but he is SINCERE. He is not seeking re-election this year. He made a promise to only serve two terms and he’s honoring that promise.

And here’s him speaking to the congress about an Iraq resolution in Jan. 07 (The camera pans to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski toward the end of the video):

I was honestly hoping Obama would pick Chuck Hagel as a running mate, but at least Hagel is not shy about voicing his support of Obama despite being a Republican in a very Red State. (If you look up his re-election, he received 82% of the vote in 2004).

18092008

Anchor Jack(04:23:19) :

AKM: If you can get a P.O.Box and post it on here you are certain to get more donations. Mine, among others.

Belgian observer,, by your definition, (bumbkin, hick or rural person) I am a redneck. I am rural, so rural that, not only can I not see Russia from here, I can’t even see any houses, or paved roads for that matter. My lifestyle fits “hick” to a T, got a little garden spot, animals all around, including the two horses and I like to spend my spare time sitting by the pond with a fishing pole in my hand (can’t recall ever catching any fish in that pond, but it’s relaxing anyway), but in reality, I’m not a redneck, I’m a hippie, and my little garden doesn’t just grow tomatoes,,😀

18092008

drchill(04:27:48) :

Does anyone Remember the New York Daily News Headline “Ford to New York – Drop Dead ”

The city of New York was headed for bankruptcy. Ford favored the bankruptcy option over financial aid. Some say this tough love cost him New York and the election.

She, (McCain’s choice), seems to be burning bridges* on her quest to … dominate the world, with gods love as the end times approach… (ack!)

If the good people of Alaska get over the ‘she’s our gal so I support her’ idea, and reject her soundly.
Suppose there were protests in Alaska’s major cities, and a censure vote in the legislature.

Alaskans could kill her popularity credential.
Alaskans’ rejection of her could be the fatal shot in the heart of the McCain Palin ticket.*

I suppose her popularity is a relative thing. Like –
“(I hope) She’s better than the other awful entrenched politicians we have had …”

I’m hoping AKM will address that one.

*I’m surprised that the phrase ” The McCain Palin ticket to nowhere” – isn’t WILDLY popular. I’ll work on that.

Anchor Jack,, I’m sure if she posted a po box address on here she would get a lot of hate mail and threats in it too (and I would worry about someone watching the post office to see when she picks up her mail). This is the most popular blog on WordPress and probably one of the most popular on the web, believe me, there are a lot of right wing fanatics reading this blog, the only reason we’re not seeing a lot of comments from them is because they don’t know how to argue against the truth.
Setting up a paypal account is easy, and you can use paypal for one time payments to someone without an account, all you need is an email address and a payment source. (bank account, credit card etc.)

18092008

MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin(04:37:21) :

Cartoon Pig Dog (04:12:46) :

lemonfair (03:57:12) : “The tide is turning, and barring a terrorist attack or a major gaffe by Obama or Biden, it will not turn back again.”

Cartoon Pig Dog (04:12:46) :That idea was already suggested to McCain by his top advisors, a couple months ago they told him that an attack would be the best thing that could happen for his campaign, I’ve been waiting to see if he tries to arrange one.

How desperate are they? At this point, I don’t know if I’d put any thing past him/them. And what about the bombing of the embassy in Yemen? I hate when I start thinking all paranoid. I don’t trust these people, not one bit, they scare me. Not only do I not want to have a beer with them, I think they should all be locked up for crimes against the U.S. public.

lemonfair (04:03:27) : Larry Kudlow just on Morning Joe claiming that poor people and liberals in Congress are responsible for the financial mess, because the liberals in Congress wanted people to own houses who couldn’t afford houses. You can’t make this stuff up!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My hubby and I watched Larry Kudlow’s special about the Stock Market on CNBC last night – or as much as we could stomach. He is insane, and screamed into the camera until we had headaches. He kept saying “I believe in the country, and I believe in the workers!” He sounded like a Bolshevik on crack – or John McCain. “Workers in Red States Unite!”

Anyway, the most offensive thing Kudlow said last night was when he asked one of the economic experts what “hard-working people sitting out there in red states” should do with their money. I turned to my husband and said, “Oh, so people in blue states aren’t hurt when the stock market crashes.”

Bingo – the Republicans don’t care about the whole country. They only care about their own. Kudlow is a typical male Republican who loves his money so much he is willing to tear down his own country to keep control of it.

Given McCain’s age, medical history, and the very real possibility of a debilitating episode that would leave him unable to fulfill the duties of the office, the chance that the election of McCain would mean a Palin presidency is 1 in 4.

What would it be like if a Vice President Palin takes over as the 45th POTUS and delivers her State of The Union Address sometime in the future?

😀 yeah, I know – it’s unfair to lump them all together. We’re actually debating the French equivalent of “redneck” on one of the professional translator forums I belong to, and so far the general consensus would be to qualify “plouc” or “péquenot” with another adjective.
It was just silly of her to call her business “Rouge Cou”, which doesn’t mean anything to a native French speaker (aside from the literal meaning, that is – and it’s in the wrong order!) She wanted to call it something fancy and was way off target.

Also, last night Olbermann called Rush Limbaugh his “worst person in the world” for this statement about Troopergate and Palin, which I found offensive on more than one level. He is talking about how sexist the Democrats are, but he uses porn language to describe a woman candidate for Vice President!!! I think Limbaugh is just describing how he feels about her, and not how the Dems feel – this is scary to me:

LIMBAUGH: I’ll tell you what this Troopergate’s all about. I’m going to tell you exactly what it’s all about. It’s about the good ol’ boys of Alaska being upset that a woman had upset the apple cart, got rid of Murkowski, got rid of the other Republican opponent in the primary. This is all about the good ol’ boys of Alaska saying, “We’re not going to sit here and be run by a damn woman. We’re going to take care of it. We’re going to take this woman — ” That’s all this is. And of course this guy’s working with — doesn’t matter.

When the boys don’t like the girl, Democrat and Republican boys will line up, and then they’ll fight each other later after they get rid of the girl. And that’s exactly what is happening here. This is pure sexism in Alaska on the part of these old boys trying to get rid of Sarah Palin, and she didn’t put up with it, and she didn’t bend over and let them have their way.

She got rid of this guy — he — it’s amazing he hung on as long as he did, and in fact, this whole thing — she released the emails and some documents about this yesterday. A clear case of insubordination.

18092008

Mollys Mum(04:42:55) :

Just curious, and maybe any attorneys on site (YES, I believe there ARE honest ones! :D) can fill me in on this. If SP’s email account was hacked, wouldn’t the evidence unearthed be inadmissible in court because it was illegally procured? Have anonymous shot themselves in the foot?

18092008

greta(04:51:46) :

9.17.2008 Elko, Nevada

Obama……

“Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, ‘the old boys’ network in Washington.’ I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys’ network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!”

“asked…what “hard-working people sitting out there in red states” should do with their money. I turned to my husband and said, “Oh, so people in blue states aren’t hurt when the stock market crashes.””

Of course you blue-staters aren’t hurt … you are wealthy fat cat democrats… and of course no one in a blue state “works hard” sheesh Kudlow, is your head stuffed that far up your … ahem… never mind, it is.

When the Clinton campaign came up with “It’s the ECONOMY, stupid.” they came up with the best campaign slogan EVER. If someone hasn’t put it on a CafePress bumper sticker, they should… we should sprout them all over the country.

BTW, though I am a Dem, I live in one of those “hardworking” red states and unfortunately I’m unemployed, about to run out of that GENEROUS 13 week extension that our current forgotten-but-not-gone President deigned to sign. I have 2.5 degrees and still can’t get a job in the smartest city in our state.

During the Republiar’s love fest in the Twin Cities, while McLiar was telling us that the economy was strong, Kansas Secretary of Labor Jim Garner said on August 29th in his annual State of Labor address that “Kansas is experiencing a slowdown in job creation and the state’s unemployment rolls would likely expand this year and in 2009.

“Although the Kansas labor market performed well during 2007,” he said, “we are starting to feel the impact of the national economic situation.”

He estimated the unemployment rate in 2008 would be 4.4 percent, up from 4.1 percent in 2007 and above the 2006 rate of 4.3 percent. The jobless figure could climb to 4.6 percent next year, he said. ” (fromhttp://cjonline.com/stories/082908/bre_garner.shtml )

I know we’re not in Michigan’s position, but it doesn’t look like anything is going to improve for a while… and why? Because we give incentives to companies to send jobs overseas. Because the Republiars think that people who are out of work just don’t want to work. Bite me.

18092008

Zim in Oz(04:54:11) :

‘evening all…(from Oz)

@NNJ

ooo la la…..are you part of the ‘group’ ?

If so please put your ‘findings’ to good use.

18092008

JJB(04:55:18) :

Did anyone catch up with what the McCain visit to Michigan, where there were a few Obama people in the area …

Telling the workers on a group of car assembly line workers that he “rejects the doom and gloom that America is in decline” …..

At least he smiles at the chants of Obama 08

18092008

Hick Town in W PA(04:59:21) :

@ Mollys Mum
anonymous doesn’t care about the courts. They have her emails and can discredit her publicly whenever they choose. It is very similar to people going to the press when they can’t get justice through the system. Outing someone like her would have the same effect and be more widely disseminated than anything released to an investigating committee.

18092008

SoCal Bob.(04:59:57) :

I’m still giggling about the reception McCain got in the GM factory yesterday as he told them how they were one of the fundamentals of the economy… JM doesn’t do all that well without his little red sports car at his side.

Seeing as this is an open thread, out in the Bitter Hinterlands we talk about oil and inflation a lot. There are facts and figures flying around but the biggest lie America is being told is that we can drill our way to energy freedom.

18092008

greta(05:13:49) :

jjb ….. thanks for the link. !! i did see it when it was aired on keith’s show last night. didn’t think the mccains saw that one coming. 🙂

it was great that keith devoted the amount of time he did to walt monegan and rape kits and the ever changing story of why he was let go. as usual keith was so on target with his statements.

did anyone see the rachel maddow interview with walt monegan tuesday night?

18092008

Water S.I.M Palin(05:16:32) :

Glenn Greenwald is in top form comparing Palin’s email hacker to the unwarrented surveillance by Bush Co. If the right wing cheer for one, why cry foul about the other?

For those new to Glenzilla, he was a constitutional and civil rights litigator who now blogs about those issues, politics and the press. He was particularly vocal against FISA legislation.

Witty stuff.
“Really, if McCain is going to keep changing into new people, the campaign should send out notices. (Come to a rally for the next president of the United States. Today he’s a vegetarian!)”

@Susie in Jersey – unfortunately, according to the polls, attacks *do* help the Repubs. this from the analysis of the latest polling data, from the HuffPo:

“There is continuing evidence in the survey that any new national security threat, such as the September 16 attack on the US Embassy in Yemen, could work to the advantage of McCain, who was rated as likely to be an effective commander in chief by an overwhelming 82 percent of voters, compared to a 59 percent rating for Obama.”

– I find this both fascinating but also disheartening. When I heard about the attack in Yemen, I sighed and shook my head. It’s so awful, more loss of life; and it’s more evidence that current American policy just doesn’t work. The United States is hated even more since Bush and neocons started their ‘war on terror’ – they took the goodwill of the world after 9/11 – our hearts went out to you all – and squandered it. Bush & co have actually helped to make the world a more dangerous, not safer, place: terrorist attacks have increased and the administration has failed to make America itself secure (see here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,419270,00.html). I wish to goodness that Obama/Biden make all of this clear to the American people…😦

18092008

lemonfair(05:22:40) :

Cartoon Pig Dog and Belgian Observer:

Actually, I’m more inclined to think it will be Al Qaeda or OBL who would create the havoc, rather than our government. The Republican party in power has been the best recruiting tool they’ve had, and they’d like that to continue. So they’re likely to try to influence the election in some way, as they did in 2004.

Having Barack Obama as President would not be good for them for a variety of obvious and not so obvious reasons, and they have a very real stake in our election.

18092008

Water S.I.M Palin(05:23:56) :

This was the first article I read this morning….from the AP….”Troopergate Unraveling”. Feeling so furious that the GOP machine is allowed to override justice again. Alaskans, please let us know what we can do to help!

the rule(s) excluding evidence obtained illegally applies, in general, to evidence obtained by the “government”. So, things obtained by a private person or entity (not acting for the government, State or Federal) is not usually subject to exclusion. There are some hair-splitting rules about how a private person or entity can be acting on behalf of the State to such an extent that the act is considered to be an act of the State, but it’s been a damn long time since I took my last criminal/constitutional law course………

Lemonfair, the Republicans didn’t “influence” the election in 2004, they stole it. They eliminated over 308,000 democratic votes, plus another 73,000 in the recount process and Bush only won by 119,000 votes. Read my blog on how to steal an election, their method of doing it worked, and unfortunately they are presently employing the same methods again in this election.

“So McCain is the candidate with the foreign policy experience ready to lead on day one. But he doesn’t know who the leader of Spain is. He gets confused in an interview, apparently thinking Zapatero is someone from Latin America who is an enemy of the United States and manages to create a minor international incident.”

Too good not to savor….and re-post. Palin’s take on her foreign policy experience….when asked at a townhall meeting 9/17:

“Well, I think because I’m a Washington outsider that opponents are going to be looking for a whole lot of things that they can criticize and they can kind of try to beat the candidates here, who chose me as his partner, to kind of tear down the ticket. But as for foreign policy, you know, I think that I am prepared and I know that on January 20th, if we are so blessed as to be sworn into office as your president and vice president, certainly we’ll be ready. I’ll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness.”

Last night before going to bed I watched a bit of Larry King. I had to turn it off before I puked…but before I did, I listened to a Repub surrogate named Todd something or other. He was whining…get this…saying that Obama’s campaign was telling lies…and oh my gosh….HOW COULD THEY?

I tell you…I wanted to go through the tv and murder the man. What in the name of all that is holy is wrong with those people. They are truly convinced that people are stupid.

Susie in Jersey – sure; and I fear you’re right about most people not knowing about Yemen. I guess I meant: polling figures show that any kind of attack would boost the Republicans. it’s always been the same here in Britain, too – the a) incumbent and b) right-wing party is seen as being better by the public on national security. ditto the economy. so a right-wing incumbent party is laughing – even when, bizarrely, they have messed up on both the economy and national security.

a big, big thing that Tony Blair did to swing people around to voting Labour was to change the mindset that the Tories ‘did’ the economy and national security better. now, ten years or so after Labour came into power – after over a decade of the right wing status quo – I’d say that Labour and the Conservatives are probably thought of fairly equally by the British public, in terms of who can be trusted (or not trusted!) with the economy and defence. Mind you, a war in Iraq probably helped that..😦 *sigh*

18092008

lemonfair(05:50:58) :

Cartoon Pig Dog

– sorry I was unclear. By “they” I mean Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. They conveniently put out scary videos threatening us right before the election, as I recall. And they’ll try to influence the election again.

18092008

Amused and Bewildered(05:54:50) :

@Water S.I.M PalinGlenn Greenwald is in top form comparing Palin’s email hacker to the unwarrented surveillance by Bush Co. If the right wing cheer for one, why cry foul about the other?

With the new redesign of Mudflats, could you please consider adding a chat room? Atleast it would give us “truthies” a new place to hang out, maybe swap ideas & insights, and it would also allow for more coordinated efforts between Mudflatians as the election approaches.

Obama is moving ahead in the polls now and I can’t think of too many things that would turn the tide again. Does McCain have any more kitchen sinks? Will Bush bail him out with another war or a miracle plan to save the economy?

McCain seems to be completely losing it and his campaign spins so much it has turned into a Merry-Go-Round. I think at this point they have no idea which way is up, whether nighttime is black or white, or what any word in the English language means. Fundamentals=American workers? Location of Russia=foreign policy experience? Pig with lipstick=Vice Presidential candidate? Spain=enemy forces in Latin America?

Meanwhile, the whole Repubican Party seems to be in a panic and doesn’t know where to point their figures. Half want to blame the Democrats for this mess and the other half are complaining about Bush.

I just don’t see how McCain can pull this off now.

18092008

Water S.I.M Palin(05:58:42) :

@lemonfair: Plan A: Real effort afoot to “get” top Queda ranks pre-election both for Bush’s “legacy” and to get McCain elected. Plan B: Open the “terrorist” hornets nest and get them to do something rash in the U.S. How many killed in this latest display of egomania?

18092008

upnorth minnesota aka hose hotrod palin(05:59:31) :

Good Morning all!

I want to share this link to a very eye-opening site that I visit daily…very cheering. And also, it puts why we need to elect Obama into a much bigger world picture. If the link doesn’t work, just google The World Wants Obama.

Here’s a quote from the most recent post, “An Obama Victory Could Bolster Reformers in Iran.”

“If [Obama] goes to Iran, I’m sure he could fill Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, which has a capacity of 100,000. To a large extent this is because of the nature of Obama’s message about change and hope. Iranian people truly want to change their situation, get rid of decades of marginalization and restore their reputation in the world. They feel connected to his message of change. They are tired of living under the threat of economic sanctions and military attacks. Obama’s remark about initiating a dialogue with Iran translated for many Iranians into hopes of normalizing the relationship between the countries and Iran rejoining the international community.”

And Flag Cobra— so good to hear about a less “hawkish” attitude toward Iran from the new Israeli leader.

18092008

Amused and Bewildered(06:01:57) :

From ADN today:

Monegan dismissal inquiry heats up

The political storm swirling around the Troopergate investigation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin could reach new intensity Friday morning when legislators are scheduled to hear from witnesses hit with subpoenas to testify. The big question is, who will show up?

RE: “I am writing from California and you Alaskans need to rally a call to arms to make sure the truth is known.”

Tim maybe you don’t know this, and myabe I am overprotective, but you probably wound up at this page because someone you know, or a page you went to HEARD the rally cry and linked you here.

We Mudpuppets recognize that the rally cry has been released and people are starting to hear it. No offense, but instead of putting MORE pressure on someone who has already done MORE to expose the misinformation is kinda silly. What would make sense is to join the rally cry and start doing your share as well!

We THANK Mudflats daily for all the hard work done. For months my page has said, “Will someone please give Bush a blow-job so we can impeach him already?”, Well I am getting a feeling that Sarah Palin’s “blow-job” is getting exposure and Mudflats single-handedly has helped get the word out and it feels good to have someone so courageous around.

The actions of ONE person CAN make a difference and this blog proves it.

Heheheh is anyone watching the map become more red?

18092008

upnorth minnesota aka hose hotrod palin(06:03:47) :

oops. many apologies. i put the link to theworldwantsobama.org on the wrong text in the last missive. (new at html). I’ll try again.

Don’t know if this has been posted but it’s making the rounds this morning among Independent groups. Just got this one out of Florida:

“I just saw McCain railing against this bailout etc. and he will clean it up. He is a giant hypocrite. McCain was one of the people behind the deregulations that was one of the root causes of this.

From Mother Jones: McCain Blasts Wall Street Failure, Neglects To Mention His Adviser Helped Cause It
“As the news broke of the Lehman Brothers meltdown and the rest of the latest financial crisis, John McCain, speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Monday, angrily declared, We will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street. This is a failure.

And in a statement released by his campaign, McCain called for greater “transparency and accountability” on Wall Street. If McCain wants to hold someone accountable for the failure in transparency and accountability that led to the current calamity, he should turn to his good friend and adviser, Phil Gramm. As Mother Jones reported in June, eight years ago, Gramm, then a Republican senator chairing the Senate banking committee, slipped a 262-page bill into a gargantuan, must-pass spending measure. Gramm’s legislation, written with the help of financial industry lobbyists, essentially removed newfangled financial products called swaps from any regulation. Credit default swaps are basically insurance policies that cover the losses on investments, and they have been at the heart of the subprime meltdown because they have enabled large financial institutions to turn risky loans into risky securities that could be packaged and sold to other institutions.”

From Bloomberg: Lehman’s collapse threatens the financial markets because of swaps.
“Bond-default risk soared worldwide as the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sparked concern than the $62 trillion credit-derivatives market will unravel….Lehman, the fourth-largest securities firm until last week, has been one of the 10 largest counterparties in the market for credit-default swaps, according to a 2007 report by Fitch Ratings. The market, which is unregulated and has no central exchange where prices are disclosed, has been the fastest-growing type of so-called over-the-counter derivative, according to the Bank for International Settlements.

“The immediate problem is the derivative default swaps market, in which a plethora of institutional accounts and dealer accounts are at risk,” Bill Gross, manager of the world’s largest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, California, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio yesterday. “It induces a tremendous amount of volatility and uncertainty.”

Barclays Capital analysts have estimated that if a financial institution with $2 trillion in credit-default swap trades were to fail, it might trigger between $36 billion and $47 billion in losses for institutions that traded with the firm. So the Lehman fiasco–caused in part by the use of unregulated swaps–could lead to ruin elsewhere in the economy.

Gramm is responsible for the rise of the wild and woolly $62 trillion swaps market. And he was chairman of the McCain campaign and a top economic adviser for McCain–until he dismissed Americans worried about the economy as “whiners.” After that comment, McCain dumped Gramm. But was Gramm truly excommunicated from McCain land? Last month, he attended a meeting of McCain’s top supporters in Aspen, Colorado. And at a dinner that day, McCain singled out Gramm for praise. Last week, failed Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul revealed that Gramm, now an exec for Swiss banking giant UBS (which also lost billions of dollars due to subprime loans and swaps), had recently called him as part of a McCain effort to win Paul’s endorsement. Paul turned Gramm down. (Both Gramm and Paul are Texas Republicans.) Gramm’s Paul-courting effort seems to indicate that the fellow who has done much to cause the current financial troubles (and who was once considered a possible Treasury secretary should McCain win the White House) is back in the good graces of the McCain campaign.

Shortly after McCain promised he would “clean up” Wall Street, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, his running mate, appeared at a Colorado rally on Monday morning and proclaimed that “John McCain and I will put an end to the abuses in Washington and Wall Street that have resulted in this financial crisis.” She promised a McCain administration would “reform the way Wall Street does business.” (She was short on details and spent more time discussing Colorado sports stars from Alaska.) What neither she nor McCain has explained is how they plan to be able to reform Wall Street when they are being assisted by 177 lobbyists and the guy who greased the way to the current crisis with a backroom legislative maneuver. If McCain and Palin are serious about never putting America “in this position again,” they ought to consider seriously writing down any economic advice they get from Phil Gramm.

By the way, both McCain and Palin decried golden parachutes for CEOs. What might Carly Fiorina, a top McCain adviser and surrogate, think of that? She received a $21 million severance package when she was forced out as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, after her not-so-successful stint there–and the value of her golden parachute eventually reached $42 million.

This is the candidate who recommends forming a “commission” to fix this battered mess? Does America have time to wait for a Commission? Do American stockholders and retirement funds have time to wait while Senator McCain tries to spin his way out this web?

This is the candidate whose economic plan was even questioned and disputed by Mssrs. Warren Buffett and Alan Greenspan. Greenspan went so far as to state that McCain’s tax proposal was woefully lacking and that America cannot lower taxes on borrowed money.

As I sit here this morning watching Goldmans and MorganStanley try to find a place to hide before the weekend, I am wondering if Mr. McCain truly understands the magnitude of his decisions and support of lobbyists over the past 26 years.

It appears Mr. McCain’s pattern of reckless behavior is not just a one-time event with the nomination of Ms. Palin, but a lifetime of self-interest and underestimation of his ability to grasp complex issues.

I do not agree with Mr. Obama on many things; however, I can no longer declare myself “undecided” after the events of the past few weeks. As an Independent, you know these decisions are not made lightly, and I hope you will review both candidates’ platforms against their past actions. It is the only way to help our great Nation move forward in a positive direction.

This financial crisis just looks worse and worse. Wall Street is going to look evil for several generations. From Time Magazine:

But they couldn’t help behaving the way they did because of Wall Street’s classic business model, which works like a dream for Wall Street employees (during good times) but can be a nightmare for the customers. Here’s how it goes. You bet big with someone else’s money. If you win, you get a huge bonus, based on the profits. If you lose, you lose someone else’s money rather than your own, and you move on to the next job. If you’re especially smart — like Lehman chief executive Dick Fuld — you take a lot of money off the table. During his tenure as CEO, Fuld made $490 million (before taxes) cashing in stock options and stock he received as compensation. A lot of employees, whose wealth was tied to the company’s stock, were financially eviscerated when Lehman bombed. But Fuld is unlikely to show up applying for food stamps.

18092008

proud2busa(06:09:51) :

@WHABS –

Just for the record: I don’t consider myself a MudPUPPET. I am a Mudflatter, a Mudflattian, but not a puppet.

Thanks –

Lisa

18092008

Chicago(06:10:10) :

Another Conservative columnist come out of the Palin Closet:

“she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness”

People should stop picking on vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin because she hired a high school classmate to oversee the state agriculture division, a woman who said she was qualified for the job because she liked cows when she was a kid. And they should lay off the governor for choosing another childhood friend to oversee a failing state-run dairy, allowing the Soviet-style business to ding taxpayers for $800,000 in additional losses —

18092008

Amused and Bewildered(06:17:21) :

From ADN today:

Monegan dismissal inquiry heats up

The political storm swirling around the Troopergate investigation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin could reach new intensity Friday morning when legislators are scheduled to hear from witnesses hit with subpoenas to testify. The big question is, who will show up?

@antsy Last night in Michigan, Palin used the word “cronyism” at least three times (in regard to how she was going to reform Washington). LOL.

18092008

Water S.I.M Palin(06:22:31) :

@plwalsh: WSJ calls it today the worse crisis since 1930’s, with no end in sight. I don’t think it’s filtered through to people yet how it’s actually going to hit their pocketbooks. Ironic that the GOP, with cries of “small government”, is heading us towards the socialism path. Many more industries (auto, fer instance) standing in line with their hands out….

18092008

proud2busa(06:26:04) :

Making the Independent Rounds this AM:

***************************************
I just saw McCain railing against this bailout etc. and he will clean it up. He is a giant hypocrite. McCain was one of the people behind the deregulations that was one of the root causes of this.

As the news broke of the Lehman Brothers meltdown and the rest of the latest financial crisis, John McCain, speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Monday, angrily declared,We will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street. This is a failure.

And in a statement released by his campaign, McCain called for greater “transparency and accountability” on Wall Street. If McCain wants to hold someone accountable for the failure in transparency and accountability that led to the current calamity, he should turn to his good friend and adviser, Phil Gramm.

As Mother Jones reported in June, eight years ago, Gramm, then a Republican senator chairing the Senate banking committee, slipped a 262-page bill into a gargantuan, must-pass spending measure. Gramm’s legislation, written with the help of financial industry lobbyists, essentially removed newfangled financial products called swaps from any regulation. Credit default swaps are basically insurance policies that cover the losses on investments, and they have been at the heart of the subprime meltdown because they have enabled large financial institutions to turn risky loans into risky securities that could be packaged and sold to other institutions.

From Bloomber: Lehman’s collapse threatens the financial markets because of swaps.

Bond-default risk soared worldwide as the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sparked concern than the $62 trillion credit-derivatives market will unravel….Lehman, the fourth-largest securities firm until last week, has been one of the 10 largest counterparties in the market for credit-default swaps, according to a 2007 report by Fitch Ratings. The market, which is unregulated and has no central exchange where prices are disclosed, has been the fastest-growing type of so-called over-the-counter derivative, according to the Bank for International Settlements.

“The immediate problem is the derivative default swaps market, in which a plethora of institutional accounts and dealer accounts are at risk,” Bill Gross, manager of the world’s largest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, California, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio yesterday. “It induces a tremendous amount of volatility and uncertainty.”

Barclays Capital analysts have estimated that if a financial institution with $2 trillion in credit-default swap trades were to fail, it might trigger between $36 billion and $47 billion in losses for institutions that traded with the firm. So the Lehman fiasco–caused in part by the use of unregulated swaps–could lead to ruin elsewhere in the economy.

Gramm is responsible for the rise of the wild and woolly $62 trillion swaps market. And he was chairman of the McCain campaign and a top economic adviser for McCain–until he dismissed Americans worried about the economy as “whiners.” After that comment, McCain dumped Gramm. But was Gramm truly excommunicated from McCain land? Last month, he attended a meeting of McCain’s top supporters in Aspen, Colorado. And at a dinner that day, McCain singled out Gramm for praise. Last week, failed Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul revealed that Gramm, now an exec for Swiss banking giant UBS (which also lost billions of dollars due to subprime loans and swaps), had recently called him as part of a McCain effort to win Paul’s endorsement. Paul turned Gramm down. (Both Gramm and Paul are Texas Republicans.) Gramm’s Paul-courting effort seems to indicate that the fellow who has done much to cause the current financial troubles (and who was once considered a possible Treasury secretary should McCain win the White House) is back in the good graces of the McCain campaign.

Shortly after McCain promised he would “clean up” Wall Street, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, his running mate, appeared at a Colorado rally on Monday morning and proclaimed that “John McCain and I will put an end to the abuses in Washington and Wall Street that have resulted in this financial crisis.” She promised a McCain administration would “reform the way Wall Street does business.” (She was short on details and spent more time discussing Colorado sports stars from Alaska.) What neither she nor McCain has explained is how they plan to be able to reform Wall Street when they are being assisted by 177 lobbyists and the guy who greased the way to the current crisis with a backroom legislative maneuver. If McCain and Palin are serious about never putting America “in this position again,” they ought to consider seriously writing down any economic advice they get from Phil Gramm.
******

By the way, both McCain and Palin decried golden parachutes for CEOs. What might Carly Fiorina, a top McCain adviser and surrogate, think of that? She received a $21 million severance package when she was forced out as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, after her not-so-successful stint there–and the value of her golden parachute eventually reached $42 million.

A pig with lipstick is still a pig.

This morning, as we listen to the potential of MorganStanley buying Wachovia and Goldman is looking for a buyer, one has to wonder what ‘trickle down’ effect this will have in the commercial market.

I can no longer stand by as ‘undecided.’ There are many things with which I disagree with Mr. Obama, but we cannot stand four more years of Mr. McCain’s recklessness and history of poor decisions; his strong relationship with lobbyists, and finally, his apparanent lack of ability to grasp the economic fundamentals.

@antsy: Wondering how I can become a friend of Palin’s. Aiming for that job heading Homeland Security cause, like, I lived in a secure home, like, my whole life.

18092008

Anonymous(06:27:35) :

From today’s NY Times:

“Despite an intense effort to distance himself from the way his party has done business in Washington, Senator John McCain is seen by voters as far less likely to bring change to Washington than Senator Barack Obama. He is widely viewed as a “typical Republican” who would continue or expand President Bush’s policies, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.”

“Despite an intense effort to distance himself from the way his party has done business in Washington, Senator John McCain is seen by voters as far less likely to bring change to Washington than Senator Barack Obama. He is widely viewed as a “typical Republican” who would continue or expand President Bush’s policies, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.”

This could be worse than the 1930s. In those days the government wasn’t in hock up to its eyeballs. If things got really bad, and China stopped giving us more loans, the FDIC couldn’t even cover the insurance on bank accounts without printing a lot more paper money, and we all know where that road goes. Right now, we could sure use that long-gone $2 trillion surplus Clinton left us for a rainy day.

For years, it’s seemed to me that the economy was mostly hot air. Manufacturing is gone. Companies are little more than brand names, trade marks, and golden parachutes. But what did I know? I wasn’t a Wall Street insider.

If this is a “knowledge economy,” what happened to the knowledge and what happened to the economy?

18092008

Whabs, Seattle, WA.(06:33:23) :

I understand the eversion to being called a puppet, but it was tossed at me yesterday elsewhere, I would wear it and take it back before I let someone insult me with it.

I shall not use it again if it offends. But I won’t back down from those who hurl it at me. And no offense was meant or taken.

There’s a good reason Warren Buffet calls derivatives “financial weapons of mass destruction.” With “normal” investments, when things go bad, you lose your investment. With derivatives, when things go bad, you can lose MULTIPLE TIMES your investment. Thus all these financial firms are turning into black holes— sucking good money in after the bad.

Talk about Emperor’s New Clothes. It seems those Wall Street guys have been running around naked for years.

18092008

Laura(06:39:10) :

Regarding the question about the admissibility of hacked evidence:

I’m thinking it’s admissible. ILlegally obtained evidence can be excluded if the government did the collecting. THis gets somewhat more complicated. If the prosecution can show the evidence would have been found by legal means, they may get to admit it (inevitable discovery doctrine). If a civilian was acting on behalf of the government, with the cooperation/encouragement/something of the government (like an informant, or maybe a school that searches lockers – which is permissible for reasons which are a very low threshhold – at the behest of the police, rather than becuase of their own reasons, it probably should be ruled inadmissible.

I don’t think either of these exceptions apply to anonymous. There’s no indication Anonymous hackers had anything to do wtih the hacking. They may have their own civil and criminal liabilities, but that’s not hte government’s problem.

The purpose of the exclusionary rule is to prevent (provide a strong deterrent to) government abuse of citizens and their rights. While it seems like a technicality sometimes, there are some very good reasons for this. But in this case it doesn’t appear the government did anything, andthe exlucsionary rule is designed to protect people from the government. We have other mechanisms to protect people from each other.

I was trying to think of an example. Remember the woman who accused William Kennedy Smith of rape. During the trial there was a vase that she stole – so she could provide evidence that she really was in the house. She turned the vase over to the police. This was admitted as evidence. The government didn’t steal the vase, the victim did.

18092008

antsy(06:41:51) :

@ Amused and Bewildered — after all, she KNOWS all about cronyism.

@ Water S.I.M Palin — You could head Homeland Security given your secure home experience, but do you know how to scare the crap out of everyone?

Via Feministing, it turns out that one of the reasons cited by Sarah Palin for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan is worse than why we previously believed she fired him: merely abusing her power to take revenge on a former brother-in-law. (See this ABC News report for the basics). She did it because Monegan was going to Washington to ask for money to combat sexual assault — Alaska has more forcible rapes per capita than any other state in the Union — and Palin didn’t want Monegan’s request to interfere with her earmarks requests going through now-indicted Senator Ted Stevens. The AP checks it out:

The last straw, the McCain campaign said, was in July, when Monegan planned to travel to Washington to seek federal money for a plan to assign troopers, judges and prosecutors who could exclusively handle sexual assault cases — one of the state’s most intractable crime problems.

In a July 7 e-mail, John Katz, the governor’s special counsel, noted two problems with the trip: The governor hadn’t agreed the money should be sought, and the request was “out of sequence with our other appropriations requests and could put a strain on the evolving relationship between the Governor and Sen. (Ted) Stevens.”

Four days later, Monegan was fired. He said he had kept others in the administration fully apprised of his plans to go to Washington.

Between this and her refusal to subsidize rape kits for sexual assault victims, a pattern is clear.

18092008

Lulu(06:44:40) :

plwalsh, I agree with your thought about what else could the GOP possibly have up their sleeves, they seem to be imploding, Palin was such a desperate and foolish move, the economy’s horrible failure can only be seen by the majority of voters as a huge GOP failure….and then I think…about their repeated threats of “October surprises”…and it makes me want to donate again…and continue to volunteer for Obama/Biden.

18092008

Amused and Bewildered(06:44:56) :

@greta You’re welcome! Interesting stuff there, isn’t it? I hope someone will pick up on that (il)legal aspect of the investigation.

But suppose instead of emails someone stole Palin’s briefcase, which was full of memos the government was trying to subpoena. Palin would say: I can’t turn them over. They were stolen. But if someone later turned in the briefcase to the police, wouldn’t it be legal to use the material inside? I think only the legality of the government’s actions matters.

Their attacks built a huge, curious, sympathetic TV audience for her convention speech. When Palin spoke more impressively than seasoned politicians like her opponent, Joe Biden, she became an Obama-like star, rejuvenating the McCain campaign and the GOP.

Some attacks on Palin ignited debate on cultural issues Obama tried to defuse.

Obama was still recovering from his gaffe about how when small-town folks “get bitter, they cling to guns or religion. . .” Yet some Obama supporters could not resist mocking Palin for having been mayor of a small town, a hunter, and religious.

Unfortunately for Obama, small-town folks who are religious and/or own guns vote in great numbers in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia.

If Obama loses, some of his surrogates may be bitter and blame those voters. They won’t blame themselves for alienating voters with insults. And they won’t see any inconsistency in their praising tolerance and multiculturalism while denigrating middle-American culture.

18092008

Whabs, Seattle, WA.(06:46:48) :

Can’t Bush at any time declare martial law? Did he not set this up? My understanding is that he could.
For a while after Biden said Clinton would make a better veep, I thought Obama’s camp may be planning one hell of an October Surprise in letting Joe step down and bringing Clinton in. Now that the tide is turning, I fear Bush has an October Surprise up his sleeve as well. Watching what is unfolding in Texas, and what I HAVEN’T been paying attention to until it was linked here was sobering.
What does he need besides an attack against the US? Could a natural disaster do it, or say…financial?
Just curious.

18092008

Amused and Bewildered(06:47:56) :

@greta You’re welcome! Interesting stuff there, isn’t it? I hope someone will pick up on that (il)legal aspect of the investigation.

@greta You’re welcome! My posts seem to be going into the WordPress ether. Anyway, it’s interesting stuff and I hope that someone picks up on the possibly illegal aspect of the Atty. General’s involvement.

I wanted to thank YOU for the Olberman piece! For anyone who hasn’t seen it, find the link that greta posted above. (I was going to try to repost it but I think the link is the reason why my post didn’t take.)

I don’t think the Republicans have their act together enough to bring off an October surprise. They are busy blaming each other for the economic meltdown and for Sarah Palin. And, after this month, what could be more surprising?

“She doesn’t have any foreign policy credentials,” Hagel said in an interview published Thursday by the Omaha World-Herald. “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don’t know what you can say. You can’t say anything.”

Could Palin lead the country if GOP presidential nominee John McCain could not?

“I think it’s a stretch to, in any way, to say that she’s got the experience to be president of the United States,” Hagel said.

McCain and other Republicans have defended Palin’s qualifications, citing Alaska’s proximity to Russia. Palin told ABC News, “They’re our next-door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”

Hagel took issue with that argument. “I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, ‘I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,'” he said. “That kind of thing is insulting to the American people.”

Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In July, Hagel traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Though he didn’t expect to be asked, Hagel had said he would have considered serving as Obama’s running mate.

Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 6,500, before becoming Alaska’s governor in December 2006.

Palin visited soldiers in Kuwait and Germany last year and said in an interview with ABC News that her only other foreign travel had been to Mexico and Canada. She also said she had never met a foreign head of state.

Hagel told the newspaper that other governors have been elected to serve in the White House without experience in Washington. He said judgment and character were also important for the job.

“But I do think in a world that is so complicated, so interconnected and so combustible, you really got to have some people in charge that have some sense of the bigger scope of the world,” Hagel said. “I think that’s just a requirement.”

@Susan in Atl: As long as McCain’s handlers can keep it a personality based competition, anything negative about Palin will create sympathy for her. That’s why Obama’s right in sticking to the issues, I think that we need to help him by elevating the discussion with low-info voters out there. Re-posting this article with some good ideas about how to do so….

In response to your comment:“Obama supporters could not resist mocking Palin for having been mayor of a small town, a hunter, and religious.”

I was not an Obama supporter when Palin was announced the candidate. And I do not think it is fair to classify criticisms as “mocking”. When in fact they were, IMO, justified points of discussions considering Palin could be so close to becoming President.

1. Mayor of a Small Town – It was not the fact that she had been a mayor of a small town that brought “mocking” (as you called it) – it was the fact McCain was claiming it was a substantial point on her resume. This was what initially got me to take a closer look at Palin. I am from a small town, that is 10 times LARGER than Palin’s at the time she was mayor. For over twenty years I have watched our city council meetings on TV. To imagine ANY of those leaders as being qualified within the next decade as VP is absurd and downright scary.

For the GOP to tout Palin’s mayorship as a substantial qualification, is akin to including a stint as fifth grade class treasure on a resume. It might be a notable inclusion on her bio, yet it is NOT a significant resume brownie point.

2. Hunter – it is not the fact that Palin is a hunter that got everyone’s attention. It is the fact she encourages the cruel and inhumane practice of ariel hunting. This says VOLUMES about her humanity – and THAT is a valid consideration when considering a president.

3. Religious – If Palin was a member of a radical Muslim extreme group, would you consider that a valid criticism of the candidate?? Well, for some of us, her beliefs are equally radical. I do NOT want someone who believes in the Rapture (someone who doesn’t have to consider future generations) to be in charge. Nor do I want our VP or Pres to approach any war as “God’s War”. I am opposed to ANY radical religious person in charge of a multi-religious country like ours.

18092008

Julie Arizona(07:13:14) :

Andrea:
These are hysterical, but there might be a little bit of truth to it in Palin’s world.

On a good note, here in Northern Arizona today all of the Letters to the Editor and the Op/Ed pieces were strongly anti McCain/Palin and pro Obama.

Just remember not everyone in John’s home state thinks he’s a hero. Although, he was a POW – did you know that?

18092008

Debbie aka Commando Coalfire Palin(07:17:09) :

Here’s somthing funny a small version of Sara Palin. In my small town we had this woman who ran for mayor as a republican. She was a “self made woman, no use for college that would run the city like a business”) She campaigned around town and wrote down all the houses that were having work done on them and turned it over to the building department. I got turned in for refacing my cabinets (no permit needed) the building department came calling to see what I was doing is how I found out. This spurred me to become actively involved in the campaign to elect her opponet. She ended up getiing 17% of the vote. Yesterday she had a letter in the newspaper telling us how excited she was to see Sara Palin on the Rep. ticket and how hard she was working to get them elected. I about puked, then I realized that will assure that this city, a small conservitive enclave in progressive Washington State will now surely vote for Barrak Obama in overwhelming numbers.

18092008

Manny Mysterio(07:20:19) :

It’s amazing how the media has kept their hands off the rape kit issue. Amazing. Has any mainstream media member besides Olberman and Jon Stewart brought it up yet? There’s an Associated Press write up here:

I don’t think there’s any qualifying that needs to be done. Palin has no defense. Either she supported the policy, for which she’d be rightly damned, or she was unaware it existed, which calls into serious questioning her governing competence. Olberman is dismissed as a liberal. Jon Stewart is host of a satire show… I’m not even sure half the audience understood he was actually being serious (go to about 2:15):

Valley Alaskan for Obama will hold a rally at 4pm on Friday, the 19th, at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Crusey St. Bring you sign and joint us. We want to make the focus on McCain and the McCain/Palin camgaign, not Sarah.
See you there.

18092008

Indiana Pearl(07:24:07) :

Does anyone know what Palin seems to have wrapped about her legs in the Hannity “chat”?

I was trying to decide whether to move to Canada (they speak English in most provinces) or Mexico (the food and climate are better), but it looks like the McPalin bounce has collapsed.

I’m not ready to claim victory for Obama yet, we have our work cut out for us. But the McCain/Palin situation is really starting to be shades of what happened in Illinois when Obama ran for the Senate. They were just discussing on MSNBC about McCain not being the Repubs’ first or even second choice. And now Repubs are finally weighing in on Palin fears.

When Obama was running for Senate, the deteriorating Republican party in IL could not find a candidate to run against him to save their life. After some scandals, they brought in the carpetbagging Alan Keyes. In the final month, it was like watching a cartoon to compare him with Obama. I see this starting to play out again.

In my own district where former House Speaker Denny Hastert reigned for years, when he retired early we had to have a special election to elect a temp senator, while also choosing who would run in November. I stayed up late worrying that Dem. Bill Foster, (a Ph.D in physics!) would lose in my long Repub but turning district. He won and hit the ground running and is an excellent mind to have in congress.

Foster still has to run for the full term in Nov., but his opponent, ice cream magnate Jim Oberweis, has seen the Repubs pull out funding support and is resorting to silly commercials featuring his own kids saying what a great dad he is. Oberweis has run for a lot, unsuccessfully, and alarmed many of us in a governor’s race in his alarmist stand on illegal immigrants. (Though they found his dairy even employed some).

Anyway – I will keep thinking about Alan Keyes, and how the Repubs have pulled out of gaining back Hastert’s seat, and remain very hopeful that the obvious contrasts with McCain/Palin will win this for Obama.

18092008

Debbie aka Commando Coalfire Palin(07:28:52) :

One more thing, Alaska you are not alone we feel your pain. We westerners in the lower 48 are annoyed when those from the other Washington interfere in our business. They truly have no clue about anything to do with our state and usually throw a major monkey wrench into things. In short most of us truly hate the other Washington, we wish they would forget we exist. Hang in there they will go away eventually. The rest of us will continue to defend your right to run your own state the way you see fit.
I noticed that Bush is not having much success holding his finger in the dam of failing banks and falling stock markets. Just saw a poll on ABC :Who do you trust more with the economy?” 82% said Barrack Obama. Who says the good guys never get a break.

18092008

Bec in Illinois(07:29:37) :

Sorry – I mean temp congressman

18092008

upnorth minnesota aka hose hotrod palin(07:31:48) :

Please click on the link below to celebrate a new bridge to somewhere.

I was at the Metrodome for a Twins game (a few short blocks away) the day of the Interstate35 bridge collapse. I’ll never forget it.

If we really mean to put country first, how about investment in our crumbling infrastructure? Does anyone know what’s McSame’s plan says about that?

States where I have actually previously lived in the past that are on my list
so I am 100% certain I would NEVER live there again.

Ohio ( even though it is not on my list, way too backward for me )
Indiana ( Join us in the 21st century someday )
Florida ( Oh my God, the bugs, the hurricanes and walking canes LOL )
Georgia ( Oh yeah, the good ole boys clubs down there )
Tennessee ( far too right wing Evangelical my way or the highway )

In writing this, I refer to each states governing bodies, not necessarily
to all the beautiful people who reside in each state.
One should keep in mind however, the majority does elect a governing body.

18092008

Debbie aka Commando Coalfire Palin(07:35:06) :

I will laugh until I cry if Saras own state goes blue, you will not just make my day but my life if that happens. Keep up the good work Alaskan Dems. Were all behind you cheering you on.

I will laugh until I cry if Saras own state goes blue, you will not just make my day but my life if that happens. Keep up the good work Alaskan Dems. Were all behind you cheering you on.
=============================

As my nephew always says ” Tru Dat ! “

18092008

Debbie aka Commando Coalfire Palin(07:38:59) :

Harley A.K.A. Pinocchio Palin (07:33:11) :

States where I have actually previously lived in the past that are on my list
so I am 100% certain I would NEVER live there again.
–South Dakota isn’t to bad, don’t write them off yet, have cousins there working for Obama. Most of the folks while conservitive recognize that the Rep. VP candidate is a small town bully, every town has one, to them this may just turn out to be a referendum on that sort of behavior. My cousin in noticing this trend.

18092008

Bec in Illinois(07:39:16) :

Thanks Water S.I.M for the link. May the list grow and grow. I watch MSNBC all day – and Joe Scarborough sure is freaking out – today it was about the surplus when he left congress and now the deficit. Can we count him? At least a part? I’m waiting for Buchanan to swing back a bit. He was ga ga over Obama’s speech, then in a few days was about having an erection over Palin. I try to block him as much as possible (MSNBC needs to show more balance than FOX I figure) but I assume even he has to be turning on McCain.

18092008

Lulu(07:39:17) :

Susan in ATL quotes from Boston.com: “If Obama loses, some of his surrogates may be bitter and blame those voters. They won’t blame themselves for alienating voters with insults. And they won’t see any inconsistency in their praising tolerance and multiculturalism while denigrating middle-American culture.”

I don’t know who the author of this is, but he or she is unable to see their own logical inconsistencies. It’s not our fault that the GOP hotshots never vetted Palin. Who denigrating middle-American culture by pointing out the reality of the Palin candicacy? Sorry, I’ve been to Wasilla, and it’s not a “small American town.” It’s a de facto suburb of Anchorage. It is this sort of foolish OpEd from the right that shows how out of touch they are with reality.

This is a post hoc, ergo propter hoc argument, and I, for one, cry foul.

Here’s somthing funny a small version of Sara Palin. In my small town we had this woman who ran for mayor as a republican. She was a “self made woman, no use for college that would run the city like a business”) She campaigned around town and wrote down all the houses that were having work done on them and turned it over to the building department. I got turned in for refacing my cabinets (no permit needed) the building department came calling to see what I was doing is how I found out. This spurred me to become actively involved in the campaign to elect her opponet. She ended up getiing 17% of the vote. Yesterday she had a letter in the newspaper telling us how excited she was to see Sara Palin on the Rep. ticket and how hard she was working to get them elected. I about puked, then I realized that will assure that this city, a small conservitive enclave in progressive Washington State will now surely vote for Barrak Obama in overwhelming numbers.
=====================================

You go Deb !
I hope your city will actively work to help elect Obama too!

18092008

bPoint(07:42:23) :

Andrea

Those are hilarious! Thanks

18092008

Lulu(07:42:54) :

Re: Personality based campaign. Let’s call it as it is. Neither McCain or Palin have good personalities. Neither one.

McCain NEVER smiles on the campaign trail anymore. I don’t know if he is in too much physical pain or what.

And Palin, everyone knows now how heartless and horrible a woman she is.

So, they are not running on personalities. They tried to run on “narrative.” Peggy Noonan tipped us all off to the strategy. But guess what, the narrative didn’t add up to the American people. From the beginning, Palin’s story smelled fishy to the lower 48.

18092008

Bec in Illinois(07:43:27) :

I’ll do more checking on Foster polls, but in my west suburban/small town – I have only seen one McCain yard sign and lots of Foster. Many have Foster even if they don’t have Obama out — yet. I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet.

BTW — my wonderful town is about twice the size of Wasilla. My mayor has been in that role for over 20 years. I doubt he would ever assume he has the skills to be governor, VP or president. Duh!

States where I have actually previously lived in the past that are on my list
so I am 100% certain I would NEVER live there again.
–South Dakota isn’t to bad, don’t write them off yet, have cousins there working for Obama. Most of the folks while conservitive recognize that the Rep. VP candidate is a small town bully, every town has one, to them this may just turn out to be a referendum on that sort of behavior. My cousin in noticing this trend.
====================================
My daughter in law is from North Dakota.
Happy to hear that SD is slowly coming around.
Here is to the great state of South Dakota then !

18092008

DeMo(07:48:22) :

Got a fantastic email today. Pics from the rally! Mudflats, you’re traveling America via email. With all the forwards on the one I received, at least 100 people got it. Do the math. FanFreakingTastic!

18092008

Lulu(07:49:02) :

One more thing. Am I the only child of Watergate on here who senses something very big is being hidden in this whole gigantic Troopergate cover-up thing?

One more thing. Am I the only child of Watergate on here who senses something very big is being hidden in this whole gigantic Troopergate cover-up thing?
===============================
Nope! We all know she has something to hide and she must be very afrais of it coming out as well.

At least McCan’t is

18092008

J-PALIN IS NOT A WOMAN'S FRIEND(07:56:05) :

SMR THANK YOU FOR THE LINK-THAT IS A POWERFUL MESSAGE! THANK YOU AGAIN!

18092008

Bec in Illinois(07:57:37) :

Has anyone read sone of George Will’s stuff lately? I usually skip over – but some recent columns sure sound like he could be on the conservative criticism list

I can’t seem to find the one that caught my eye in the Chicago Trib earlier this week. But I did a doubletake and who wrote it!

18092008

katiebegood(07:58:06) :

Susan in Atl (06:45:24) :
Boston.com
One reason why Obama is not leading by a landslide:

Obama is not leading by a landslide because the polling companies (most owned by Republicans) are cooking the books on the polls. Try this one: http://www.dailykos.com/ Kos makes sure the polling company doesn’t survey an equal number of Republicans to Democrats the way some of the other polling companies are doing.

You also need to take into consideration the millions of newly registered Democrats across the nation. They are rarely, if ever, polled. And then you have the cell phone users. Personally, I think it is a landslide already. But the MSM and the Polling companies have a vested interest in making it look like a close race. And, I don’t mind it that people think it is close. That makes Democrats more likely to volunteer and donate. And in the end, it may get all those newly registered voters to actually vote on November 4.

18092008

katiebegood(08:00:40) :

Harley A.K.A. Pinocchio Palin (07:53:21) :
Lulu (07:49:02) :
One more thing. Am I the only child of Watergate on here who senses something very big is being hidden in this whole gigantic Troopergate cover-up thing?

That would be me too. But, we need to remember that it was not the crime that brought Nixon down, it was the coverup. You think the Republicans would have learned a lesson there, but it looks like they haven’t.

Anyone besides me having fun listening to the Republicans try to talk their way out of the blame for our current financial mess?

18092008

greta(08:01:55) :

i really think that troopergate holds a slew of things that they are trying to hide. deeper you go the muddier it becomes. too much effort is being made to not resolve the issue (monegan’s firing) and be done with it. the more it receives attention the more stuff comes out. started out with a firing, went to government emails diverted to personal account, state employee(s) performing personal duties while working (ivy frye/babysitter), rape kits, monegan’s trip to seek funding.

perhaps we should make a list.

18092008

Polly(08:04:13) :

Anyone want to support, make a comment, and/or sign a Troopergate Petition?

Katiebegood:
I agree with you that the perception of being close in the polls is probably a good thing. We certainly don’t need the complacency of feeling that we have it won. Also it might keep the Repugs from being quite so desperate.

Not at all, I see something very dark, they’re trying to hide. Time will tell what it is, I just hope it’s not too late by then.

18092008

chloe - Skein Chug Palin(08:06:52) :

hahahaha, a good laugh for the morning:

18092008

Sophie Shelburn, VT(08:10:35) :

Hi Everyone,
This video brought me to tears, it made me think of the Wonderful Americans working hard for HOPE…..http://www.youtube.com
Yes we can music video…
You have to hear it, it will make you want to fight…
We have to work hard, not much time left.

Hi everyone,
Sorry if these is a repeat….
You need to watch this videohttp://www.youtube.com
Yes we can music video
We have to fight, not much time left.
This brought me to tears….
God Bless..

18092008

Bec in Illinois(08:13:43) :

MSNBC is showing Palin at a rally in Cedar Rapids, IA and there are people chanting in the background – I assume not for her. She is getting flustererd.

18092008

Lulu(08:14:41) :

I’m glad to hear others sense the same thing re: the Troopergate fiasco…that there is something very bad there for Palin. I wonder if it has to do with the First Dude. I don’t know why–not trying to spread rumors–but that’s something I’ve been wondering ever since his rather “unorthodox” participation in Alaskan governmental affairs has been revealed. Why was he cc’d on so many of her e-mails? Why would he handle some of her “official business,” as has been reported? It’s very strange.

18092008

Augie(08:15:22) :

Harley, I must disagree with you about Arkansas. I grew up in Oklahoma except for the 3 years my family lived in Libya in the mid-60’s and I have been able to travel through Europe on several occasions. I have also lived in Colorado. But Arkansas is where my heart found a home. It’s a beautiful state, at least the western half anyway. Also our 2 senators and 3 of our 4 congressmen are Dems, as well as our new governor. We’re glad to be rid of Huckabee. I take no offense with your opinion, just wanted to let you know that maybe it’s not as bad as you think.

G’morning fellow Mudflatters,
Here it is. The daily posting of THE LIST. We’re growing every day — up to 135 today. Please rest assured that I won’t be sharing any information you’re sharing with me without specific permission from you.

Also, many Republicans are not Evangelicals, but relgious moderates who are not brain dead, and they could swing towards Obama if McCain/Palin seems too be melting down.

Also, I find that people vote much more conservatively than they “live.”

So life in a red state may be conservative, but it’s not like Soviet Russia.

18092008

Bec in Illinois(08:22:30) :

I’m waiting for Sarah to say — I said no to the bridge to nowhere!

She is explaining what her role will be — energy, and making government more transparent. Yeah. Government checkbook online. Responsibililty and accountability.

She is bragging on fighting for funding for special needs kids. Bragging on that kid with autism in her family, and now Trig.

Is that why she cut funding for the Special Olympics.

Gag me.

18092008

Michael in VA(08:23:20) :

As I (in Va.) watch (tv) Palin stump in Ohio today, I wonder if all her repeat one-liner zingers are going to be availible for sale on itunes or cd. People at these rallies eat up that stuff like flies on SH**

They know the lines by heart and cant wait for the next one to spew out.
… come Sarah play “I put it ebay” again or that one how does it go “the good ‘ol boys network”.

America wake up, smell the bs

call it like it is. John McCain is a Liar and Sarah’s not qualified, HELLO

18092008

Bec in Illinois(08:24:13) :

If you are searching for people in your area or neighborhood who are contributing to Obama (or McCain – for awareness) — check out this Website — it tracks donors right down to the streets they live on.

I’m glad to hear others sense the same thing re: the Troopergate fiasco…that there is something very bad there for Palin. I wonder if it has to do with the First Dude. I don’t know why–not trying to spread rumors–but that’s something I’ve been wondering ever since his rather “unorthodox” participation in Alaskan governmental affairs has been revealed. Why was he cc’d on so many of her e-mails? Why would he handle some of her “official business,” as has been reported? It’s very strange.

lulu: yes, it would be inappropriate for the shadow governor to have any power but it seems he does. sarah commented that he was cc’d so she’d be able to have a paper copy of emails. which should mean there is a paper trail. perhaps he handles official business to enhance her thoughts, actions, spying, etc. basically be an extension of her.

18092008

Cheryl(08:36:29) :

Hi to my Mudflats friends whom I love,

My kids found this website…The McLame campaign forgot to register this domain:

PhillyLawyer (08:18:24) : ivy frye has taken care of them in the past.

18092008

katiebegood(08:38:23) :

Julie Arizona (08:04:51) :
Katiebegood:
I agree with you that the perception of being close in the polls is probably a good thing. We certainly don’t need the complacency of feeling that we have it won. Also it might keep the Repugs from being quite so desperate.

I don’t know, I’m loving seeing them desperate. The more desperate they get the more lies they tell.

I prefer to be called MudWrestler, it has a highbrow and elitist tone about it. Ladies and gentlemen sitting around watching the amusing antics of politicians grappling in a pit filled with pork rinds and tapioca whilst sipping Chablis and noshing on Brie while we discourse on such topics as horse breeding and skiing in Argentina.

Ta ta darlings I’m off to the spa. And by the way, if you wish to see the latest polls, simply click this smashing site; McCain still leads in electoral votes.

Good to see the positive polling, but that in no way means Obama supporters can let their guard down.

My gut told me that McCain would pick Sarah Palin. I was right.

My gut now tells me that this election may be as close as the 2000 election — where it may get decided in the courts.

So continue to donate, continue to canvass, continue to spread the word all the way to Nov 5.

I guarantee you that the Republicans and RNC are going to get real dirty and nasty soon — the swift boat ads haven’t even started yet.

18092008

Tyler(09:10:33) :

Molly’s Mum –

The Exclusionary Rule used in courts for Evidence obtained in some way repugnant to the 4th Amendment is usually only levied against ‘state actors’. Because Anonymous was not acting for the state it is very unlikely that the evidence would be excluded – especially if there were other ways for the state to gain that evidence via subpoena.

However, Anonymous does not care one bit about the courts. That isn’t the goal at all – they just want to use the power they have (which is actually pretty impressive) to make Palin think twice.

So, what was the catch? Unlike most town-hall events, which are open to the public, include diverse crowds, and no one needs an advance invitation, this event was for ticket-holders only. And the only way to get a ticket was through the local Republican Party, after an advance RSVP. No wonder Palin was prepared to play “stump the candidate” — it was a very friendly crowd that had no interest in testing her.
It doesn’t exactly sound like a vote of confidence in the candidates’ ability to answer tough questions, does it?”

How long will the GOP continue to get away with lying, cheating and deceiving the American people? McCain and Palin are frauds.

manny mysterio — i’m with you, i think that story deserves a lot more discussion, particularly the reasoning used by palin and company, because my understanding was that it wasn’t simply a “cost” issue. the decision to charge women for rape kits was put in place because part of the emergency care included the provision of a “morning- after pill.”

this country needs to stop pussyfooting around and have an open and frank discussion about whether or not there is in fact a right to health care and whether or not women have a basic right to choose to terminate a pregnancy.

“people of faith” have every right to be guided by their belief system or moral code.

why do “people of faith” want to deny others that same right?

i’ve been curious as to what the latest “approval” rating is for palin in alaska. people keep reporting that (what i believe to be bogus) claim that she has an 80% approval rating. i believe it was july, after the troopergate investigation got legs, that her approval rating fell to 67%. i find it hard to believe that there has not been an in-state poll done in over a month.

on a hopeful note, last night while watching the olbermann show of 9/15/08 online, it struck me that pretty soon the mccain campaign is going to find themselves in more serious trouble than they are now with respect to their refusal to make palin available to the press. at a certain point everyone is going to shrug and decide they’ve got all the information they need and her speaking with the press or not will become irrelevant.

Harley, I must disagree with you about Arkansas. I grew up in Oklahoma except for the 3 years my family lived in Libya in the mid-60’s and I have been able to travel through Europe on several occasions. I have also lived in Colorado. But Arkansas is where my heart found a home. It’s a beautiful state, at least the western half anyway. Also our 2 senators and 3 of our 4 congressmen are Dems, as well as our new governor. We’re glad to be rid of Huckabee. I take no offense with your opinion, just wanted to let you know that maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
———————————————–
Yippie ! This is music to my ears !

I was certainly ONLY referring to how RED these states are
and how living there would not be good for my lifestyles.
I have traveled all over the US and have visited and lived in many states.
I 100% know how beautiful our states are to look at as well
as how many beautiful and wonderful people are contained within them.
I really was only referencing the political climates in the ones mentioned
that would make me not want too liver there.
I was not casting aspersions on the citizenry of any state.
Honestly I was not and would never do so.
My first husband has passed away some 12 years ago. he worked for GE
and we were relocated many tines due ti his job.
I know the difference I always felt between living in the ” blue states ” and living in the ” red states ” and while hopefully the climate is changing,
there was a difference.
I am lucky however, I live in Montreal now, so for me the point is moot.
My now husband does want to retire to Arizona however in a few years,
a place I vehemently opposed to moving too.

If you are going to quote polls, why not try a more reputable poll than Gallup. Gallup admitted that right after the Republican convention they stopped polling more Democrats than Republicans (there are 12% more registered Democrats than Republicans) and started polling an equal number. That is moving the goalpost and cooking the books. Because of that, I don’t believe anything that Gallup posts.

Need a respite from the Pinocchio lies?
I found these and they really brightened my day and me laugh.
I especially like one with the Secretary.
Reminds me so much of Palin and her ” qualifications ”The Secretary (one on the right)

ok😉 y’all finally pushed me over the edge and I had to sign up for a sn from wordpress so I could post ! You go, MR !! I have read every word since discovering, during that jaw-dropping weekend following SP’s selection, your stupendous blog that is oh-so-to-the-the-point … and informative to the max !

The ever-growing (yaaaay !) Mudflats horde of unabashed posters does give hope that finally we may see the light and reclaim our country from her current position in the World Hall of Shame — brought about by these past inexcusable years suffered under the “leadership” of GWB and his ilk.

Most of my on-line time is spent in French chatrooms, where my being American generally is greeted favorably — but not always. It has been very disheartening to read, over the past 7 years, the opinion of the French (and other European-union natives with whom I discuss from time to time) regarding the United States and our policies abroad. Beyond that, though, it always is an eye-opener to see what the rest of the world is thinking.

To BigSlick and Belgian Observer, I can’t resist sugggest that maybe “un(e) con(ne)” would be applicable ?😉

Question – I read somewhere today that in Palin stump speech in Cedar Rapids (which she incorrectly stated – Grand Rapids) she acknowledge that Trig would be four months today —- uh, I thought the baby was born 4/18/2008? That would be five months — correct? Does she know how old her baby is? or is it really her baby — cause for her not to be breastfeeding she sure don’t have a body like a mother who have a five or four month old — depends what day of the week and which Sarah you’re speaking of…..can you say — Psycho!

18092008

disgustedfemale(13:22:28) :

Greta, I have asked myself the same question…what is Todd’s role…my brother in law who lives in Alaska said they call him co-governor there…is that true?

I find it very strange that he would have been cc to any official business. I know if I had done so when working I would have been strongly repremanded if not fired. oh, and I dont know ANY woman who belongs to a fundamentalist christian church that does not follow what her husband says on most if not all stuff.

Oh did anyone else hear this news…I read that the McCain campaign has hired the tricky dick person who tried to get John Lennon deported during his political days of Viet Nam….

18092008

Oceanlover(13:34:06) :

Woohoo just saw the latest Gallup Poll results. Obama 48%, McCain 44%. Its an ill wind (the economy) that does not blow some good.